The Korean player is the Big Bad of the Starcraft scene. He is the threat that lurks across the world, playing on a ladder everyone knows fosters talent against opponents openly admitted to be the strongest. Stereotypically, the Korean player is an embodiment of discipline, practising harder and better than his non-Korean counterparts. In Starcraft, ”Korean” has become synonymous with ”skill”, his legacy of victory and success searing an almost instinctual respect into the minds of the fans. Almost by definition, a Korean tournament is a top-level tournament, and a Korean player is a player worthy of respect. Korean players are many and often seemingly unbeatable, epitomizing mastery of Starcraft. Often, distinguishing one player from another in such a cutthroat environment can be difficult.
"Also, personally, I think I have excellent strategizing skills for boX match formats. So my opponent better watch out (smiles)."It is no secret that the foreign community has, at times, had a hard time accepting the Korean dominance. There are barriers of culture that make understanding the Korean scene difficult, differences in language that makes communicating with their players nearly impossible. Korean players making the effort to speak English in public settings are lauded, celebrated for their willingness to speak a foreign language sometimes more so than for their achievements within the competition. Players that cannot – or for some reason do not – communicate directly with the foreign fans are commonly misunderstood as uninterested, or worse, faceless. Few Korean players achieve lasting recognition overseas without clowny antics, a cabinet full of gold or half a million dollars in prize money.
It is telling, then, that herO has come to be defined by his smile. Not his play, or his race, or his history in Starcraft. Naturally, these are all important parts of his identity, but they are not what has come to finally distinguish him. Kim Joon Ho's personality and demeanor has earned him the nickname ”Smiling Assassin”, encapsulating the essence of his character more than any one build or result ever will. Few Protoss players have been as successful as herO has in 2014, and even fewer repeat finalists have had to suffer the dishonor of losing three times in a row. Yet unlike his counterparts – players like soO, Jaedong and Marineking in their respective times – herO hasn't come to be defined or discredited for his losses. Perhaps it is because he had won once his losses came, but there is definitely something about herO that at least in part defies results. His embarrassing Global Finals performance in 2012 lies long forgotten, his KeSPA Cup silver a showing of strength rather than a demonstration of weakness like it would have been for many others. It is neither fair nor wholly logical, but herO has come to rarely be associated with defeat, despite suffering his fair share.
Playing any game at the highest level is bound to cause a certain amount of stress. This is a fact of life for any progamer or athlete, the stress and the pressure of having to put in absurd dedication and time to remain competitive always present. Some players handle this stress better than others, shrugging it off as part of the game, a step on the road to becoming the best and a necessary evil paid back a hundredfold once results begin to show. Others suffer more, fighting inconsistency, exhaustion and fading confidence, and having their performance take a beating as a consequence. Few can manage sequential defeats without suffering mentality problems as a result, and those who have to go through the trial of silvers often fail to ever walk the path of gold.
It is telling, then, that from his victories early this year and through his struggles with second places and agonizing defeats just inches from the finish line, herO has at no point seemed truly disheartened to the point of weakness. For some time he, like soO does now, seemed to suffer from psychological injury - stemming from the agony of his $100.000 loss at the hands of sOs and his 2gates - but even in his moment of weakness he remained an anchor for his team in CJ's rise from the bottom to the top of Proleague. He is the poster boy of CJ Entus, the most familial team in Korea, radiating a love for the game and the fans that most others fail to convey, a player with a rare kind of charisma that lets us forget even his most disappointing moments. When herO walks on stage, there is a joy about him that says more about how he feels for Starcraft than any words could. His celebrations feel honest, unlike the often forced ones of his peers. Rather than play to the crowd, he seeks to simply share his own joy, be it through a jovial tumbling on stage or a slightly embarrassed laugh cuter than anything you have ever seen. "The group selections are going to go great no matter how they're done, so I want to make them as enjoyable as possible." The fact that herO has become associated with the positive energy he seems to radiate rather than his achievements is deceptive. One might think that a player whose reputation is largely built on who he appears to be (in a scene that is, traditionally, very focused on results) rather than what he has done is a player who cannot stand on his own legs in a competitive setting. There are many examples of players making names for themselves through entertaining antics or streaming rather than through tournament placements, and while it true that herO might be similar to Dragon in his uncanny ability to charm the viewers, the nickname of ”Smiling Assassin” did not come about for nothing. This year alone, he has made it to the semifinals of four tournaments filled to the brim with talent, making it there through dependable strength in each match-up. herO embodies everything we have come to expect from Korean players - nearly flawless execution, a single-minded devotion to winning that is only matched by his peers, ingenuity in situations of disadvantage - and thus becomes a menacing player to be pitted against, but he is also very different from the stereotypical Korean bounty hunter.
In the booth, herO does not channel the fury of soO's second places or the Jaedong's relentless craving for victory, but what strikes me as a desire to win for the sake of victory and the sheer joy that victory gives him. The smile that rarely leaves him might indicate a satisfaction, a being happy with simply having come this far, but that would be an unfair representation. There is more to him than that, a singular dedication to his goals no weaker than that of Zest or Rain. He smiles as he plays Starcraft on a level very few can match, and keeps smiling as he piles one achievement upon another, but it is not the kind of smile that would be cocky on the lips of others. When faced with adversity, herO will clench his teeth but eventually, inevitably, emerge on the other side, unscathed. Perhaps adversity is what has taught herO never to surrender in the face of defeat, and to celebrate all the more when he wins. Perhaps victory is what has taught him to revel in those moments, to cherish the moments when he is the star of the show, the player no one else could beat. herO's distinctive smile is the symbol of his career, the constant in the story of a well-travelled and successful Protoss player who rose to power in the most chaotic era of Protoss, but also the sign that lets him share his passion for the competition with everyone who is watching.
On October 27 2014 11:11 Ace Frehley wrote: The brackets favours him heavily here Could see him losing to soo or zest but I think these two are knocked out early this tournament
I don't think that herO is heavily favored against Polt. I'm not even sure he's favored at all.
On October 27 2014 11:11 Ace Frehley wrote: The brackets favours him heavily here Could see him losing to soo or zest but I think these two are knocked out early this tournament
I don't think that herO is heavily favored against Polt. I'm not even sure he's favored at all.
herO has the best PvT in the world at the moment:
Ever since the start of September: 3-1 Sorry 3-1 Bomber 3-0 Flash 2-0 Natural 2-0 Salvation 2-0 DeMusliM 2-0 TY 3-0 Bbyong
All offline and against some very good terrans
If herO doesn't face a protoss in the final, I'm very confident he could take it all
On October 27 2014 11:11 Ace Frehley wrote: The brackets favours him heavily here Could see him losing to soo or zest but I think these two are knocked out early this tournament
I don't think that herO is heavily favored against Polt. I'm not even sure he's favored at all.
herO has the best PvT in the world at the moment:
Ever since the start of September: 3-1 Sorry 3-1 Bomber 3-0 Flash 2-0 Natural 2-0 Salvation 2-0 DeMusliM 2-0 TY 3-0 Bbyong
All offline and against some very good terrans
If herO doesn't face a protoss in the final, I'm very confident he could take it all
Even though his PvT is definitely phenomenal, probably best in the world, I wouldn't look at form as much as the last time he played Polt. In IEM Katowice, during the height of the blink allin/fake blink allin era, Polt had a strong style that countered what most protosses were doing. herO was guilty of doing what most protosses were doing, but he was able to make it work because he adapted to Polt's style well enough and had the multitasking and macro to outmatch Polt. I can see Polt sticking to his usual aggressive style, pulling out maybe some weird builds like he did at Redbull with the hellions and bio stim timing against Trap? I think it was Trap. But I think herO is just so complete in his PvT game that he can beat Polt, because what makes herO really good at PvT now is that since there isn't one specific thing protosses do now in the meta (like blink back then), he has shown that he has an incredible arsenal of builds and versatility in styles to be extremely difficult to prepare for.
For an article that is largely devoted to Hero smiling, I think it's hilarious that the photograph used for the revolving cards at the bottom of the article does not show him smiling.
The link to his strategy thread goes to jjakji instead. *fixed*
God damn it, why do you have to write such a compelling article when I have to cheer for MC instead of herO. Makes me doubt my devotion to the Bosstoss. Oh well, if by chance herO happens to beat MC, I will have another great Protoss to cheer for.
herO is such a cutie though. He may not have Polt or Zest's chiselled good looks, but herO definitely has a babyface look that will make the panties drop.
For now, booooo herO sux, MC will beat him.
On October 27 2014 11:05 Darkdwarf wrote: Awesome article, Zealously. Almost made me a fan of herO.
On October 27 2014 11:38 Fanatic-Templar wrote: For an article that is largely devoted to Hero smiling, I think it's hilarious that the photograph used for the revolving cards at the bottom of the article does not show him smiling.
On October 27 2014 11:38 Fanatic-Templar wrote: For an article that is largely devoted to Hero smiling, I think it's hilarious that the photograph used for the revolving cards at the bottom of the article does not show him smiling.
Too much graveling. So many run-on sentences. Seriously the last sentence in the article is 50 freaking words long. You don't have to use every adjective to describe something.
I like herO, but I didn't find this article as compelling as 8 of the other 9. It just didn't seem to go anywhere, or get me particularly excited about the coming tourney.
Needless to say, I'm excited for Blizzcon regardless. Just this article didn't do much to enhance that.
On October 27 2014 11:38 Fanatic-Templar wrote: For an article that is largely devoted to Hero smiling, I think it's hilarious that the photograph used for the revolving cards at the bottom of the article does not show him smiling.
Photo cred: ESL's Youtube. Hyun vs herO, IEM Katowice Ro16 Game 4 on Polar Night. Awesome game if you haven't seen it
When they started talking about herO's smile that was the first image that popped in my mind. Just such a rare moment to see a progamer actually enjoying the game *in the moment* as opposed to after the GG / series.
1. I watched herO vs Hyun at IEM Katowice. Game 4 was great, but game 5 really took the cake. The multitasking herO had to conjure up to control his Blink all-in Stalkers and his Forcefielding defensive Sentries at literally the same time was genuinely, strikingly impressive.
2. I have become a a fan of herO as a result, which is an idea I've never toyed with in the past.
3. While watching Hyun's Overlord guarding herO's main, I thought, "Oh my god, what if herO had a proxy Nexus somewhere and recalled his Immortals to it without giving Hyun 40-60 seconds of walking distance to prepare for the all in?! What if other Protoss did that?! All the time?!?!"
4. I googled this gloriously evil strategy to see if it's ever been attempted before and it has!!! Billowy did it against Symbol in Code A!!!
5. I realized that even I have the capacity for horrendous bullshit crimes against humanity.
This has been a very dramatic evening for me. I'd like to thank Zealously for being indirectly responsible for my journey of cosmic warfare and self discovery. I must now come to terms with all these new feelings.
Seriously TL writers, you need to start writing bad previews for BlizzCon, because me thinking "Omg this article is amazing, it's one of the best I've read this year" everytime you publish one is starting to get repetitive (; Excellent article, I feel like this extract really express why herO is one of my favorite player :
...what strikes me as a desire to win for the sake of victory and the sheer joy that victory gives him. The smile that rarely leaves him might indicate a satisfaction, a being happy with simply having come this far, but that would be an unfair representation. There is more to him than that, a singular dedication to his goals no weaker than that of Zest or Rain. He smiles as he plays Starcraft on a level very few can match, and keeps smiling as he piles one achievement upon another, but it is not the kind of smile that would be cocky on the lips of others. When faced with adversity, herO will clench his teeth but eventually, inevitably, emerge on the other side, unscathed. Perhaps adversity is what has taught herO never to surrender in the face of defeat, and to celebrate all the more when he wins.
Thanks for this article, it really hit me right in the feels.
When I came back to SC2 a year ago and started following the scene again after about a year break. I found herO and I was furious, whats with this guy stealing the name of HerO?! I totally dislikes herO for almost half a year.
He started growing on me, slowly at first with his play and then came the sOs vs herO match, I was cheering for sOs mostly just to watch the fake herO lose. How I laughed when I saw the proxies but at the last game my smile got stuck in my throat because the face of herO in defeat didn't make me happy like I thought it would. The situation, the proxies the defeat I pitied herO then. Then he lost and I saw the aftermath and what came after? A smiling herO, he walked out of there and, he smiled and he partied and that spirit, that sheer strength of heart blew me away.
That day through his defeat and the way he handled it he made me a fan, he really is like the sun.
He's a bit like Polt in that way, rides the wave of glory and sucks everything positive in.
The article mentioned how he often comebacks, I think this is somewhat more what defines him. There's always struggle, but he just so happens to peservere and even when behind often gets the better read of the rest of the series between him and his opponent. Even the very "One-sided" sOs series, the Master of Mindgames sOs, gets such a mental edge over herO, but even then he doesn't let it get to him, as much as any other player would. Even in the third game he STILL doesn't scout the proxy position, he even happens to get the read that sOs with his approach to the series in such an aggressive manner, would follow up with 4gate Blink Stalker allin and gets the counter build with fast DT's in. herO was on the way of one of the often seen comebacks, only sOs changed the approach completely mindgaming the mindgame and taking back the flow of the series in a way that only sOs can.
On October 27 2014 19:07 Shuffleblade wrote: Thanks for this article, it really hit me right in the feels.
When I came back to SC2 a year ago and started following the scene again after about a year break. I found herO and I was furious, whats with this guy stealing the name of HerO?! I totally dislikes herO for almost half a year.
He started growing on me, slowly at first with his play and then came the sOs vs herO match, I was cheering for sOs mostly just to watch the fake herO lose. How I laughed when I saw the proxies but at the last game my smile got stuck in my throat because the face of herO in defeat didn't make me happy like I thought it would. The situation, the proxies the defeat I pitied herO then. Then he lost and I saw the aftermath and what came after? A smiling herO, he walked out of there and, he smiled and he partied and that spirit, that sheer strength of heart blew me away.
That day through his defeat and the way he handled it he made me a fan, he really is like the sun.
I still remember so many idiots who predicted herO would lose his smile with the loss of that final. herO never loses his smile and its purely genuine as well
On October 27 2014 19:07 Shuffleblade wrote: Thanks for this article, it really hit me right in the feels.
When I came back to SC2 a year ago and started following the scene again after about a year break. I found herO and I was furious, whats with this guy stealing the name of HerO?! I totally dislikes herO for almost half a year.
He started growing on me, slowly at first with his play and then came the sOs vs herO match, I was cheering for sOs mostly just to watch the fake herO lose. How I laughed when I saw the proxies but at the last game my smile got stuck in my throat because the face of herO in defeat didn't make me happy like I thought it would. The situation, the proxies the defeat I pitied herO then. Then he lost and I saw the aftermath and what came after? A smiling herO, he walked out of there and, he smiled and he partied and that spirit, that sheer strength of heart blew me away.
That day through his defeat and the way he handled it he made me a fan, he really is like the sun.
I still remember so many idiots who predicted herO would lose his smile with the loss of that final. herO never loses his smile and its purely genuine as well
Yeah. On that note I feel CJ embodies perfectly herO's personality and vice-versa
On October 27 2014 19:07 Shuffleblade wrote: Thanks for this article, it really hit me right in the feels.
When I came back to SC2 a year ago and started following the scene again after about a year break. I found herO and I was furious, whats with this guy stealing the name of HerO?! I totally dislikes herO for almost half a year.
He started growing on me, slowly at first with his play and then came the sOs vs herO match, I was cheering for sOs mostly just to watch the fake herO lose. How I laughed when I saw the proxies but at the last game my smile got stuck in my throat because the face of herO in defeat didn't make me happy like I thought it would. The situation, the proxies the defeat I pitied herO then. Then he lost and I saw the aftermath and what came after? A smiling herO, he walked out of there and, he smiled and he partied and that spirit, that sheer strength of heart blew me away.
That day through his defeat and the way he handled it he made me a fan, he really is like the sun.
I never hated herO, I was neutral not knowing him much (I didn't watch the broadcast from IEMs he won, just saw news). But I did think about him as "fake herO" at first too, since I didn't really expect a high level player with the same nickname at the same time.
But then, I went to IEM World Championship and saw that guy on stage and I can tell you that he really radiates that positive energy. The crowd was happy every time he showed up and the more the crowd cheered for him, the more he was having fun and giving more happiness back. And of course, seeing his mastery of Blink Stalkers against HyuN was amazing. It was the time when I just switched race being a bit bored with Protoss and he made me enjoy that race again (to watch at least). That one event made me a fan of him, he's my favourite proplayer now.
On October 27 2014 11:11 Ace Frehley wrote: The brackets favours him heavily here Could see him losing to soo or zest but I think these two are knocked out early this tournament
I don't think that herO is heavily favored against Polt. I'm not even sure he's favored at all.
Polt will probably lose to Classic. And yes herO has a very good chance of winning it all. I would say more than 50%. Zest, Taeja are the next contenders.
Seriously.. I bet 10€ that this guy wins Blizzcon. He will finally do it. He is one of the best players in this world, playing fantastically for months and years.. The only thing he lacks is a big championship! I bet he is training right now like hell to show the world what's in him!
Edit: The article consists of so many "smiles".. herO is skill-wise top5 in this world, playing consistently and showing awesome results, would it be Proleague-style matches or international tournaments. He is a smiling assassin, yeah, but he is more an assassin than a smiling person. Everyone who is going to face herO will be in fear, because he is an awesome player, and he is training like hell for this tournament I imagine. I am going to cheer for this guy as hell, and I think his determination and concentration will not fail him. He is no Dear, definitely not, he is with Zest one of the best Protosses in this world. Different than Classic or Rain, he has shown us in 2014 that you can always count on him - and on his consistency.